Even though open-world games are incredibly popular, many excellent ones don’t get the recognition they deserve. While games like Skyrim and The Witcher 3 are well-known, there are numerous other fantastic open-world titles that deserve more attention. This list highlights just a few of those hidden gems – games that offer something fresh and might be new to you.
Understandably, the year 2025 may be recounted as yet another season fraught with “volatility.” The greater narrative of this financial market wove a tale reminiscent of that ubiquitous waltz, where the stepping stones of triumph dissolve into the grasping mists of regret. For instance, dear Bitcoin’s fortunes soared to a remarkable zenith of nearly $126,000 come October’s end, having initiated the year with a more modest average of $93,500. However, as December wore on, it did trade forunder a value below its January commencement by a most conspicuous sum, thus dampening spirits as perhaps an unplanned tea party in a deluge would.
Ah, the Russian government finally figured out that crypto is a thing. Now they want to make it legal… but only if you fill out their 100-page form and pay a fee in rubles. Or else, you’re looking at 5 years in prison. Because nothing says “I love you” like a prison sentence. 😂
Dream BBQ, known as ENA, is a quirky adventure game created by ENA Team, an independent group led by artist and animator Joel Guerra from Peru. The game isn’t just inspired by, but continues the story of Guerra’s popular and strange YouTube shorts. These shorts, known for their unique art style, memorable characters, and nonsensical humor, were released between May 2020 and February 2021. Instead of making a fifth short, Guerra expanded the series into a full video game, which launched on Steam on March 27th.
I don’t think any game beats Minecraft, except maybe Minecraft with mods. Instead of comparing games directly, I wanted to showcase those that really stand out in one particular creative area. These games aren’t necessarily huge survival worlds like Minecraft—some don’t even involve survival or crafting—but they offer unique creative tools and features that the base game of Minecraft doesn’t. We’ll focus on the core Minecraft experience to keep the comparison fair.
Released 18 years ago, BioShock profoundly impacted the gaming world, and is still remembered for its powerful line: “A man chooses, a slave obeys.” This quote has become iconic not just because it’s memorable, but because it’s central to the game’s shocking plot twist. That twist fundamentally changed video game storytelling and continues to resonate with players almost two decades later.
A new analysis pits reinforcement learning algorithms against a barrage of threats targeting blockchain-based Internet of Things networks.
Players have noticed problems with several weapons in player-versus-player combat, not just the Kettle. Recently, concerns were raised about the power of ‘Trigger ‘Nades’ from the game ARC Raiders. Many believe these grenades are too strong because they deal a lot of damage, cover a large area, and explode almost instantly. While the Kettle is also causing issues, the problem seems different. Most players think the Kettle itself is fair, but its design is easily exploited by automated programs and other cheating software.
GOG has been focusing heavily on keeping classic games alive, working to ensure older titles still run on today’s computers. Late in 2024, they started the GOG Preservation Program to restore and re-release these games. This program has already brought back favorites like the original Resident Evil trilogy and Alpha Protocol, among many others. Now, CD Projekt is selling GOG to one of the people who originally created the platform.
But, plot twist! H couldn’t keep up with its own hype and face-planted back to the $0.16 support level. Classic. Now it’s just chilling in a range, like a Trader Joe’s sample station-everyone’s nibbling but no one’s committing. 🧐